Branford Marsalis and singer Dianne Reeves revisit the musical relationship between John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman on Dedicated to You. The 1963 album provides a model for a tribute commissioned in Coltrane’s centenary year.
Marsalis chose contemporary reinterpretation rather than simply reproducing the earlier performances. His quartet and Reeves bring their own approach to material associated with restraint, vocal warmth and the close understanding between the original musicians.
The Guardian’s review considers how the project balances recognition with renewal. The historical reference is important, but the new recording’s purpose is not to impersonate its predecessors: it uses a familiar collaboration to explore what another generation of experienced jazz performers can hear and express within those songs.
